A pilot investigation of an intensive theta burst stimulation protocol for patients with treatment resistant depression

IntroductionAccelerated or intensive forms of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are increasingly being explored for their potential to produce more efficient and rapid treatment benefits in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, accelerated or intensive protocols using standard forms of rTMS are still quite time-consuming to apply. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a novel form of magnetic stimulation with the potential to produce similar anti-depressant effects but in a much abbreviated period of time. The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative efficacy of an intensive TBS protocol compared to standard rTMS treatment.Methods74 outpatients (36 female, mean age 44.36 ± 12.1 years) with MDD received either intensive TBS (3 intermittent TBS treatments per day for 3 days in week 1, 3 treatments a day for 2 days in week 2, and 3 treatments in 1 day in week 3 and in week 4, or standard rTMS (5 daily sessions per week for 4 weeks). Patients were assessed weekly throughout the treatment course, and at 4 weeks after treatment end.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the degree of reduction in depressive symptoms, the rate of reduction in depressive symptoms, remission or response rates (response rates = 27.8% for intensive group, 26.3% for the standard group, p > 0.05 for all analyses) between the intensive TBS and standard rTMS treatment groups. However, the overall response and remission rates were limited in both groups. There was no difference in rates of side effects, no serious adverse events and no alterations in cognitive performance.ConclusionIntensively applied TBS appears to have similar efficacy to standard rTMS when these were applied as delivered in this study but does not produce more rapid clinical benefits. The overall response rates in both groups in this study were limited, most likely by the total doses provided in both study arms.Clinical trials registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000443493.     

Loop versus Roux-en-Y duodenojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy for type 2 diabetes: short-term outcomes of a single-center randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDuodenojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (DJB-SG) is a novel bariatric surgery composed of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and duodenojejunal anastomosis. Both loop and Roux-en-Y DJB-SGs were reported to have acceptable hypoglycemic and weight loss outcomes, but it remains unclear which reconstruction method is better regarding therapeutic efficacy and safety for type 2 diabetes (T2D).ObjectiveThis study was undertaken to prospectively compare the short-term therapeutic outcomes and surgical safety of loop versus Roux-en-Y DJB-SG.SettingUniversity hospital.MethodsA total of 96 patients with T2D with body mass index of 27.5–40 kg/m² were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo loop or Roux-en-Y DJB-SG from January 2020 to December 2020. The primary end point was to determine the 1-year T2D remission rate. Additionally, medical cost, operative outcomes, weight loss, metabolic improvement, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal disorders at 1-year follow-up also were determined.ResultsThe preoperative data were comparable at baseline. The 1-year follow-up rate was 89.6% (43 of 48 patients) for loop DJB-SG and 93.8% (45 of 48 patients) for Roux-en-Y DJB-SG. The T2D remission rates were 93.02% (40 of 43) for loop DJB-SG and 88.89% (40 of 45) for Roux-en-Y DJB-SG at 1-year follow-up. Loop DJB-SG patients exhibited higher total weight loss (30.85% ± 7.24% versus 26.11% ± 7.12%), shorter operative times, and less medical cost than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG patients. However, there was no statistical difference regarding lipid profiles, major postoperative complications, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal disorders between the 2 groups.ConclusionDespite similar hypoglycemic effects, loop DJB-SG was simpler and exhibited better weight loss and less medical cost than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG. Thus, loop DJB-SG was better than Roux-en-Y DJB-SG for T2D.     

Case report of chloroquine therapy and hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes: What should we have in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A type 1 diabetes patient experienced remission associated with chloroquine therapy while travelling to a malaria-endemic area. Chloroquine has immunomodulatory and hypoglycaemic effects and may become more frequently used due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with type 1 diabetes treated with chloroquine should be monitored for hypoglycaemia, even after recovery.     

Aminotransferases During Treatment Predict Long-Term Survival in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 1: A Landmark Analysis

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Effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab in monotherapy in biologic-naïve and non-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real-world setting

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) monotherapy in biologic-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) versus patients with previous biologic exposure in a real-world setting.Materials and methodsNon-controlled clinical-trial, 32-week prospective multicenter study including RA patients with moderate-severe disease activity starting TCZ in monotherapy who had a prior inadequate response or were intolerant to methotrexate (MTX). Effectiveness according to EULAR response evaluated at 24-week and safety at 32-weekwere assessed.ResultsOf the 93 were enrolled of whom 84 (90%) were eligible for the effectiveness analysis. Biologic-naïve patients (n = 46, 54.8%) were younger (51.5 versus 57.9) with shorter disease duration (6.4 versus 13.3) but presented similar comorbidities in comparison with non-naïve patients. DAS28 remission was achieved in a higher percentage in the group of patients with prior biological treatment. 89 adverse events (AE) were recorded in 50 patients, most of them non-serious AE (non-SAE) (86.3%).ConclusionsIn a real world setting, TCZ exhibit similar effectiveness and safety in monotherapy in patients with RA regardless previous exposure to other biologic therapies. This study provides additional and valuable real-world findings on the use of TCZ in patients with RA.     

缓解2型糖尿病中国专家共识

2型糖尿病（T2DM）是一种以高血糖为特征的进展性疾病,一直被认为需要长期使用降糖药物治疗。近年来大量研究结果显示,通过生活方式干预、药物治疗以及代谢手术能够促进合并超重和肥胖的T2DM缓解,使患者在较长时间内免于使用降糖药物。T2DM缓解有助于减轻患者心理负担、增强患者依从健康生活方式的信心,提升患者生活质量,远期还可以延缓疾病进展速度,降低终生并发症的发生风险。为帮助我国临床医生规范开展在超重和肥胖T2DM患者中缓解T2DM相关的临床诊疗工作,促进相关研究的发展,使患者获得安全、有效的干预措施,特制定《缓解2型糖尿病中国专家共识》。     

布地奈德及孟鲁斯特治疗小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘的疗效观察

目的：观察布地奈德与孟鲁斯特治疗小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘的疗效与差异。方法研究纳入2013年1月~2014年1月入院治疗咳嗽变异性哮喘共102例患儿,按照治疗方法分为两组,51例患儿使用布地奈德治疗2周,51例患儿使用孟鲁斯特治疗2周,两组患者气喘发作时同时给予雾化沙丁胺醇缓解,观察两组患儿2周后咳嗽症状缓解率、肺功能指标（FEV1、FEV1/FVC、PEF）和不良反应。结果孟鲁斯特组症状缓解率为88.2%（45/51）,布地奈德组为86.2%（44/51）,两组缓解率相似（P＞0.05）;孟鲁斯特组1周缓解显效率为52.9%（27/51）,布地奈德组为47.1%（24/51）,孟鲁斯特组较高（P＜0.05）。两组患者治疗后FEV1、FEV1/FVC和PEF指标较治疗前均明显改善（P＜0.05）;布地奈德组和孟鲁斯特组治疗后FEV1、FEV1/FVC和PEF指标变化结果相似（P＞0.05）。结论布地奈德与孟鲁斯特在控制小儿咳嗽变异性哮喘的症状缓解、肺功能指标均相似,但孟鲁斯特在治疗第1周的症状缓解显效率较高。